Relic Pilgrimage of Saint John Vianney’s Incorrupt Heart

John Vianney, originally known as Jean Marie Vianney, was born on May 8, 1789 in Dardilly, France. He was raised in a Catholic home and was the fourth of six children. John Vianney enjoyed being a part of the Catholic church, as he loved the company of the clergy and often gathered other children to honor Jesus, the Blessed Mother, and the saints, according to Cleveland Catholic Priesthood. He was very active in his faith beginning at a remarkable young age. At the age of 15, he realized he desired “to win souls for the good Father,” which he felt was his initial call to priesthood. He entered school to become a seminarian, but it wasn’t until around the age of 29 that he was assigned a position by the bishop in a small village named Ars in France. The bishop warned him that the people of Ars were not interested in religion. However, Father John Vianney was determined to love these people and lead them to God. The author of the article from the Cleveland Catholic Priesthood, Father Michael K. Gurnick added, “Love and prayer were John Vianney’s guiding principles as a priest and as a man. He knew this assignment was not an easy one. The first step in reaching out to the people, he thought, was to meet them where they were and to bring them along to something greater. He wanted them to encounter our Lord who loved them and desired that they share in His divine life.”

Over time, Father John Vianney built strong relationships with the people of Ars. He began to be invited to his fellow believers’ homes for meals, and eventually, the attendance at Mass increased rapidly. His ministry expanded all over France, attracting people from all over to come see Father John Vianney for the Sacrament of Penance and for traditional mass. It has been said that a single person would stand in line for confession for hours, and even days, in order to receive this sacrament from him. By 1855, when Father John Vianney was around 66 years old, it was reported that nearly twenty thousand people desired his spiritual counsel every year. In addition, Father Vianney would spend up to 16 to 18 hours a day conducting Masses and allowing people to come for reconciliation. The people of Ars and from all over France knew they were experiencing the love of Jesus through this Holy Man.

Unfortunately, Father John Vianney heard his last confessions on July 29, 1859 at the age of 70 years old. And just a few days later, on August 4, 1859, the Lord called His faithful servant home. Following Father John Vianney’s death, people lined the streets to pay their respects to the Holy Man for ten days, including 300 priests and over 6,000 people. According to New Orleans Local News, Father John Vianney was officially declared a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1925, sixty-six years after his death. Pope Pius XI also professed Saint John Vianney as the Patron Saint of Parish Priests just four years later. And today, Saint John Vianney still lives on as his heart takes a tour of the United States.

Photo Courtesy of Morgan Buggey

The Shrine of Ars, France, entrusted the Knights of Columbus with the responsibility of having the relic of Saint John Vianney’s incorrupt heart for a national tour of the United States that has been going on since November of 2018 and will continue until June of 2019. The Knights of Columbus provided a special opportunity for those to attend a prayer service and mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona, PA on Thursday, January 31st, 2019. The cathedral, which is able to hold 1,000 people, was entirely filled with Catholics, young and old, in order to be a part of such an amazing celebration right here in our area. I, personally, was able to attend the mass held at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona in honor of Saint John Vianney. Aside from how beautiful the cathedral was and the wonderful celebration, I was able to witness Saint John Vianney’s incorrupt heart. It was a very special opportunity and overall, it was an honor to be able to be in the presence of the loving, serving, God-loving, and faithful saint, John Vianney.

Second year student at Mount Aloysius College studying Ultrasonography. I enjoy doing activities outside like hiking and fishing, while I also like to play sports, exercise, watch movies and bake. In addition to writing for The Belltower, I'm also a Mercy Presidential Scholar, a Campus Ministry member, and a Rotaract Club member.